Tax on legal marijuana a small price to pay

It is understandable that some people in our community are opposed to legalized marijuana. Some people uncritically believe the government’s exaggeration of the dangers of marijuana. Some may mistakenly believe that the harms that are caused by the prohibition of marijuana are actually caused by the drug itself. Some may profit financially from marijuana’s illegality, either as drug dealers or as members of the prison-industrial complex. Others may be unaware of marijuana’s tremendous therapeutic benefits and fail to realize how many people are deprived of this therapy, despite the state’s medicinal marijuana program.

What is not understandable is why someone who has smoked marijuana for decades would oppose legalization simply because of a tax imposed on its sale (letter, “Legal marijuana would cost more,” April 10).

A tax is a small price to pay compared to a conviction for possession of even a small amount of marijuana. The penalties for this offense include up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, loss of one’s driver’s license, expulsion from public housing, loss of parental rights, loss of student loans, loss of employment opportunities, lawyer’s fees, etc.

Bills currently in the New Jersey Legislature (S1896/A3094) would allow taxed and strictly regulated sale of marijuana to adults only. In addition, these bills permit home cultivation of six marijuana plants, untaxed, provided that the growing takes place in an enclosed, locked space and is not made available for sale.

Law-enforcement merger a force to be reckoned with

The Trenton Citizens-Police Advisory Council, South District, would like to thank Police Director Ralph Rivera, First Assistant Prosecutor Angelo Onofri and Detective Alexis Durlacher for their participation in a panel at the council’s most recent meeting.

The panelists discussed the newly created Mercer County Homicide and Vice Task Force. We learned that the Homicide Task Force is comprised of a number of officers from within Mercer County, specifically: a sergeant and four detectives from Trenton; a sergeant and six detectives from Mercer County; two Mercer County Sheriff’s Office detectives; detectives from Lawrence Township and the New Jersey State Police; and a lieutenant from West Windsor.

As a result of the merger, Trenton has also gained two support staff personnel, two analysts and access to technology and laboratory resources at county offices that it did not previously have. In the five months since its formation, the team has successfully closed four cold cases. Additionally, the police departments have organized an IMPAACT (Initiating Multiple Police Actions Against Criminal Targets) unit focusing on crime prevention in high-crime areas during critical hours.

The panelists also addressed the issue of violence against the Latino community. County departments and Santander Bank have been working with the prosecutor’s office to provide Latino immigrants with services such as bank accounts and temporary ID cards.

We hope to see greater Latino representation at future CPAC meetings. The outbreak of violence against the Latino community is not an isolated issue involving one demographic of the city. It’s part of the overall problem of violence in Trenton, which CPAC seeks to resolve. When some in our community hurt, we all hurt.

We recognize that our understaffed police force works hard. These creative solutions, using available county-wide resources, benefit us all.

-- Maria G. Kelly,
Trenton
The writer is chairwoman of the Trenton South District Citizens-Police Advisory Council.

Raise your voice against torture, unlimited detention

In May 2009, at the public portion of the Manalapan Township Committee meeting, I requested the mayor pass a resolution in opposition to torture, secret and unlimited detention and the suspension of a person’s legal rights. The mayor agreed to consider it, but at a following meeting I was told the rest of the governing body would not go along with the request. They said, among other things, that passing such a resolution was not the best use of the committee’s time. Astonished, I placed the same request before other governing bodies, only to be met with the same negative response.

It became apparent to me that the segment of the 1 percent of the population that has control of both political parties will not let the resolution pass in any governing body.

It now becomes a test of wills. The people of each municipality must come out in force and demand passage of such a resolution. Either we the people are in control and retain the Bill of Rights or we lose control to a segment of 1 percent of the population, along with our Bill of Rights.

To act is the sole decision of each citizen.

-- Ray Kalainikas,
Manalapan

N.J. would be good home for mental health pilot clinic

The Access to Medicare Act of 2014 was signed into law April 3. Tucked into it was the Excellence in Mental Health Care Act co-sponsored by Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th Dist.) and Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.). Rep. Lance deserves recognition for his role in guiding this vital legislation into law.

Rep. Lance has always been on the right side of issues concerning those in need of mental health and substance use treatment services. Having worked with him when he served in the Legislature, I must underscore that he has continued to be a champion of individuals with mental illnesses and/or addictions and their families and now he is a prime sponsor of legislation representing the most significant investment in mental health and substance use treatment since President Kennedy signed the Community Mental Health Act in 1963.

The new law creates federally certified community behavioral health clinics that will expand access to evidence-based services, including 24-hour crisis services. The legislation will also increase the integration of mental health and substance use treatments with primary medical care. The new certified clinics will begin as pilot programs in eight states and will offer person-centered, multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment, as well as wellness services. I hope New Jersey will be one of those eight states at the forefront of breaking ground in serving the needs of children and adults with mental health and substance use disorders.

We could not be more proud that one of our own Congress members is responsible for these major steps forward in improving quality of and access to mental health and substance use treatment.

-- Debra L. Wentz, Ph.D.,
Hamilton
The writer is CEO of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies Inc.